Tulare County Biographies
E. H. HARDELL
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
For more than thirty years E. H. Hardell, treasurer of the city of
Porterville and one of its well known and substantial merchants, has been a
resident of California, and during that time has had a variety of experiences
out of which he has gained a thorough acquaintance with local conditions. He
also is traditionally connected with the pioneer period of this state, for his
paternal grandfather, W. J. Hardell, was one of the '49ers who came in here in
the time of the great "gold rush" and was one of the active participants in the
stirring adventures of that period. E. H. Hardell was born in LeMars, county
seat of the county of Plymouth, Iowa, October 27, 1876, and is a son of Frank
and Elizabeth (Schneider) Hardell, who in 1893 came with their family to
California and located in Madera, and both are still living. For some time after
his arrival in California, Frank Hardell was engaged in the transfer business at
Madera, but of late years he has been connected with the operations of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
As will be observed by a comparison of above dates, E. H. Hardell was
but sixteen years of age when he came to California with his parents in the
spring of 1893 and for some time after his arrival here he was an aid to his
father in the latter's transfer business in Madera. He then was for two years in
the livery business in Madera and Fresno, after which he began "railroading"
with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. That was in 1901, and he continued
this employment until 1913, making his home in Porterville. In 1912, while still
thus employed, Mr. Hardell opened a billiard parlor in Porterville and thus
became engaged in business there. Not long afterward he sold this place and
established himself in his present line, stationery and cigars, and has done
very well as proprietor of the leading exclusive stationery establishment in the
city. In 1920 Mr. Hardell was appointed city treasurer to fill an unexpired term
in that important public office and in the ensuing election was returned to that
office by the franchise of the people of the city. In the next election he was
reelected treasurer of the city and is thus now (1925) serving his third term in
that office, one of the most popular public officials in the county.
Mr. Hardell was united in marriage to Mrs. Frances Morgan, and they have
two daughters, Corinne and Lilias. Mr. and Mrs. Hardell take a proper interest
in the general civic and social affairs of the community, Mr. Hardell being
regarded as one of the leaders of his party hereabout. He also takes an
interested part in certain of the fraternal society activities of the city and
is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Source: History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing
Company, 1926., p. 253